Wireless sheave wheel assembly with imagining capabilities for well operations

ABSTRACT

A sheave wheel assembly includes a housing; a wheel attached to the housing and configured to rotate relative to the housing; an imaging system attached to the housing and configured to obtain images of a surrounding of the sheave wheel assembly; and a transceiver attached to the housing and configured to send the images in a wireless manner to a ground control system.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein generally relate towireline operations associated with an oil and gas well, and morespecifically, to techniques and processes for lowering a tool in thewell while monitoring not only the movement of the tool and/or a tensionassociated with the tool, but also the surroundings of the well.

Discussion of the Background

While a well is drilled or operated for extracting oil and gas, varioustools need to be lowered into the well in a controlled manner, i.e.,knowing the tension that is applied to the tool and also knowing theposition of the tool in the well. Such a tool may be a cable (e.g.,wireline, rope or other type of wire) that is connected to other tools,e.g., gun, setting tool, packer, valve, plug, etc. These tools arelowered into the well with the help of a derrick and/or crane.

Traditionally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an oil exploration system 100for lowering the tool 110 (wireline in this example) through a head 111into the well 112, includes a wireline truck 120, its ground controlsystem 130, and a crane or derrick 150 (only its top part is shown inthe figure). The wireline 110 is attached with one end to a winding drum122 of the wireline truck 120 and the other end is lowered into the well112 and may be attached to a tool 114. Tool 114 may be a gun, string ofguns, sub, switch, logging tool, setting tool, plug, or other wellequipment. The wireline truck 120 has a wireline depth and tensionmeasuring device 124, which not only guides the wireline 110, but alsomeasures the movement of the line and the tension in the line. Thewireline depth and tension measuring device 124 is connected to a depthand tension measurement unit 132, which receives the measured signalsand transforms them in an actual length and/or tension. This informationis then passed to a shooting system and/or logging system 134 and alsoto a hoist computer/controller 136. A computing device 138 (for example,a laptop) controls the shooting panel and the hoist computer.Information from the hoist computer 136 is distributed to variousinterfaces, for example, a display 140, a global controller 143, andanother display 144, that are used by the operator of the wireline truckfor maneuvering the wireline into the well.

The winding drum 122 is connected to a motor 125 that is controlled by apower controller 126. The power controller 126 receives its power from apower source 128, e.g., a generator or hydraulic power source. The powercontroller 126 interacts with the hoist computer 136 and is configuredto respond to various commands from the wireline truck operator. Notethat the wireline truck operator can interact with the various elementsof the system 100 through the hoist computer 136 and/or the shootingpanel 134. The shooting panel 134 is used mainly to shoot a gun, if thetool 114 is a gun string or includes a gun string.

System 100 also includes two sheave wheels 140 and 142. During awireline operation, the bottom sheave wheel 140 is tied off to a securetie point 141, for example attached to the head of the well 112, and thetop sheave wheel 142 is suspended from the crane or derrick 150. The twosheave wheels are aligned with the winding drum 122 and the head of thewell 112 so that the wireline 110 can be deployed inside the well.System 100 may also include a lubricator device 116 through which thewireline 110 passes before entering the well, to lubricate the wireline.The lubricator device may also be suspended from the crane or attachedto the head of the well.

The top sheave wheel 142 is moved to a desired position by the craneboom 150 to allow for the wireline 110 to make the transition from thewireline truck 120 through the bottom sheave wheel 140 up and over thetop sheave wheel 142 with a direct straight path into the pack-off 117at the top of the lubricator device 116 and into the well bore 112. Thecurrently used top sheave wheel has no line length (i.e., depth) or linetension measurement capability and it is only used to re-direct thewireline from the wireline hoist unit into the top of the lubricator.

In previous wireline operations (in particular, open hole applications),an individual tension link (not shown, but present instead of thewireline depth and tension measuring device 124), such as thosemanufactured by Industrial Sensors & Instruments (Texas, US) have beenattached between the crane 150 and the top sheave wheel 142, with dataconnections to the wireline truck being made by an electric cable, formeasuring the tension in the cable 110. This type of tension measurementis made in cases where the wireline measuring head is a “straight line”(see products from Bench Mark and/or Geo-Log, Texas, US) type ofmeasuring device, and thus not capable of a wireline tensionmeasurement.

As described above, the system 100 has multiple parts and components,some of which are stationary, but some of which are moving. For example,the line 110 continuously moves over the bottom and top sheave wheels140 and 142, the drum 122 of the truck 120 is also rotating as long asthe line 110 moves, the crane 150's boom may also be moving to adjustthe position of the top sheave wheel 142. Even the truck 120 can bemoving at some time. The movement of one or more of these parts maysometime negatively affect the operation of the overall system 100. Forexample, crane 150 may slip from its position, line 110 may get damaged,one or more of the sheave wheels may fail to rotate, the drum 122 maynot respond as expected, the lubricator 116 may fail to receive the line110 with the desired speed, etc. Any of these failures need to beobserved by the operator of the system as soon as possible and remediedto prevent a shutdown of the oil extraction, which is an expensiveexercise.

Thus, the operator of the system 100, who traditionally stays inside thecontrol room of the truck 120 and has access to information about thewell and the equipment deployed around the well only through the monitor140 and the other displays 144, would need to either leave the controlroom and personally inspect, from outside the truck, the entire system,or would have to rely on information collected by the workers thathandle the line 110. Under either scenario, the operator of the systemdoes not have real-time access to this additional information. Thismeans that in the eventuality that one or more of the parts of thesystem experiences a failure or misbehaves, the operator might not beable to quickly take corrective action.

Thus, there is a need for a new measuring system that overcomes theabove deficiencies and/or a system that collects the additionalinformation and offers the operator access to such information inreal-time.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, there is a sheave wheel assembly including ahousing, a wheel attached to the housing and configured to rotaterelative to the housing, an imaging system attached to the housing andconfigured to obtain images of a surrounding of the sheave wheelassembly, and a transceiver attached to the housing and configured tosend the images in a wireless manner to a ground control system.

According to another embodiment, there is a wireline system for wellexploration, and the system includes a wireline to be lowered into thewell, a top sheave wheel assembly configured to hold the wirelinealigned and above a head of the well, a bottom sheave wheel configuredto hold the wireline aligned with a wireline truck, and a ground controlsystem configured to receive from the top sheave wheel assembly, in awireless manner, images of a surrounding of the sheave wheel assembly.

According to still another embodiment, there is a method for monitoringa well, and the method includes attaching an imaging system to a topsheave wheel assembly, attaching the top sheave wheel assembly to acrane or derrick, placing a wireline over a wheel of the top sheavewheel assembly, lowering the wireline into the well, capturing imageswith the imaging system, which is directly attached to the top sheavewheel assembly, of a surrounding of the wireline, and transmitting in awireless manner the captured images, from the top sheave wheel assemblyto a ground control system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and,together with the description, explain these embodiments. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional wireline distribution system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireline distribution system that uses an imagingsystem and a wireless depth and tension measurement system attached to atop sheave wheel assembly;

FIG. 3 illustrates the top sheave wheel assembly;

FIG. 4 illustrates the depth and tension measurement system;

FIG. 5 illustrates another implementation of the depth and tensionmeasurement system;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for using the depth and tensionmeasurement system;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a sheave wheelhaving a depth and tension measurement system;

FIG. 8 illustrates the imaging system attached to the top sheave wheelassembly;

FIG. 9 illustrates fixed first and second camera associated with theimaging system;

FIG. 10 illustrates movable first and second cameras associated with theimaging system; and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a method for taking images with the imagingdevice while lowering a line into a well.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the embodiments refers to the accompanyingdrawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify thesame or similar elements. The following detailed description does notlimit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined bythe appended claims. The following embodiments are discussed, forsimplicity, with regard to a wireline that is dispatched inside of awell. However, the embodiments discussed herein are not limited topositioning a wireline in a well, but they may be applied to other toolsthat are introduced in an enclosure and their tension and/or positionneed to be known.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with an embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of thephrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various placesthroughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the sameembodiment. Further, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

According to an embodiment, a monitoring system is attached to a sheavewheel (inside, outside or both) and this system communicates in awireless manner with a wireline truck or another ground control systemfor providing real time information about a surrounding of the well. Themonitoring system may include a power source that is regenerated by theturning of the sheave wheel and also may include a wireless transmitterfor transmitting images of the system in a wireless manner, so that themonitoring system can operate independent of the other components of thesystem, and no extra cables are run from the monitoring system to thecontrol system.

FIG. 2 shows an oil and gas exploration system 200 that has a depth andtension measurement system 210 and/or an imaging system 250, bothimplemented on the top sheave wheel assembly 242. The configurationwhere only the depth and tension measurement system 210 is present isfirst discussed, followed by a discussion of a configuration where bothof the systems 210 and 250 are present on the top sheave wheel assembly242. The depth and tension measurement system 210 communicates in awireless manner with an antenna 232 of a ground control system 130,which may be located on the wireline truck 120 or on the ground. Thus,measurements related to the line 110 movements and/or its tension aretransmitted to the ground control system 130 without any wires, whichlikely would made the entire system 200 more easily to control and use.

By placing the depth and tension measurement system 210 on the topsheave wheel assembly, the measurements' accuracy is improved. In thisregard, the currently used wireline units are susceptible toinaccuracies because of mis-calibration and are prone to otherinaccuracies, such as line slippage between the measuring wheel and theline, and variations in line diameter from manufacture variation or linewear. In this regard, the wireline industry standard line measurementsystem is accomplished with a wireline measure head 124. The measurementof the line 110 length is accomplished by a calibrated (orelectronically compensated, uncalibrated) measure wheel that is turnedby the line traversing through the measure head in a precise manner.Because of contaminates that get attached to the wireline (for example,well fluids, or other non-well related contaminates), a measurement ofthe longitudinal length of the wireline by a measure wheel in themeasure head is prone to errors, not the least of which is slippage,i.e., the circumference of the measuring device slippage along thelongitudinal length of the wireline.

The primary reason for slippage is that only a small area of contactaround the circumference of the measure wheel is in actual contact withthe wireline. In the case of the wireless sheave wheel assembly 242,especially in the case of the sheave wheel in the top position asillustrated in FIG. 2, the wireline 210 wraps nearly 180° around thecircumference of the measure wheel. This fact alone virtually eliminatesany slippage between the wireline and the measure wheel. The actualsheave wheel assembly 242 need not be specially calibrated mechanically,as any errors that are present can be compensated for within theelectronic measure conversion, i.e., the generation of electricalsignals from the measure wheel measurement.

In the same manner, the line tension measurement made in the traditionalmeasure head 124 in FIG. 1 is accomplished by a very small deflection ofthe line thru the measure device, which equates to a very small fractionof the actual line tension being measured. Errors in calibration areexaggerated by this small ratio. The upper sheave wheel assembly 242 inFIG. 2 does not face this problem as the tension measurement is nearlydouble the actual line tension, again, because of the nearly full wraparound the sheave wheel of the wireline. Because of this high degree ofwrap, any errors in measurement are actually reduced when converted toelectrical signals. In one application, it is envisioned that the uppersheave wheel assembly 242 in FIG. 2 could easily replace the measurehead assembly 124 in FIG. 1, as the primary line measurement device.

Therefore, the linear line measurement made on the top sheave wheelassembly as illustrated in FIG. 2 eliminates the chance of line slippagebetween the line and the wheel (because of the wrap of the line 110around the measuring wheel of the top sheave wheel assembly, which isnear to 180°) and the measurement accuracy of the line's tension isimproved by the fact that the line tension measured at the top sheavewheel assembly 242 is double the actual line tension (because of thewrap angle around the sheave wheel).

Existing line tension measurement devices currently only measure a smallfraction of the actual line tension and resolve the small measurementinto the actual line tension because of the low angle of deflection ofthe wireline through the measuring head. If the tension measurement ismade from the bottom sheave wheel, (i.e., a load cell is attached to thebottom sheave wheel connection 141), then the measured line tension isstill less than the actual tension because of the less than 180° wrap ofline 110 around the wheel of the bottom sheave wheel assembly 240. Asthe measurement accuracy is very dependent upon the operator performingaccurate angular measurements of the line wrap around the bottom sheavewheel, this method also fails to provide accurate results for thetension measurement.

However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 avoids these problems becausethe line 110 is almost perfectly wrapped around the wheel of the topsheave wheel assembly 242, and thus, the tension measured by the depthand tension measurement system 210 is double the tension in the line.

The depth and tension measurement system 210 is now discussed in moredetail with regard to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is an overall view of thetop sheave wheel assembly 242 and includes a housing 300 that partiallyencloses a wheel 310. Wheel 310 is attached to the housing 300 with anaxle 312. Wheel 310 is configured to rotate about the axle 312. Ashackle 340 is attached to the housing 300 and the shackle is configuredto be attached to the boom of a crane (not shown) or to a derrick.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the top sheave wheel assembly 242 and the depthand tension measurement system 210. Housing 300, wheel 310, and axle 312are visible in this figure. In addition, a rotation measurement device410 located on the housing 300 is also visible. Rotation measurementdevice 410 may be located inside or on the outside of the housing 300.The rotation measurement device 410 is configured to count how manytimes the wheel 310 turns when the line 110 (not shown) rotates with thewheel so that a length of the line's traveling distance may be estimatedby a controller. To ensure that the line does not slip over the wheel,the wheel 310 has a groove 402 in which the line 110 fits. The rotationmeasurement device 410 may be a tachometer that includes an opticalsensor or Hall effect sensor for counting the rotations of the wheel 310relative to the axle 312. However, other types of sensors may be used.

The depth and tension measurement system 210 may also include a tensionmeasurement device 420, that is located between the housing 300 and theshackle 340. The tension measurement device 420 may be a load cell,which is a transducer that creates an electrical signal whose magnitudeis associated with the force or tension measured. Other sensors may beused for measuring the tension in the cable 110. Although FIG. 4 showsthe tension measurement device 420 being located between the housing 300and the shackle 340, it is possible to locate the sensor in the axle 312or at other locations.

Measurements from the rotation measurement device 410 and the tensionmeasurement device 420 are collected at local control system 430. Localcontrol system 430 may include a processor 432 for processing thereceived signals (for example, digitizing the signals and mapping themeasured signals to actual lengths and forces experienced by the line110), a memory 434 for storing the signals and software necessary forprocessing the signals, a wireless transceiver 436 that is capable oftransmitting data with a transmitter to the ground control system 130and also for receiving, with a receiver, data, instructions and/orcommands from the ground control system 130. The wireless transceiver436 may use FM frequency, AM frequency, Bluetooth technology, infraredtechnology, Wi-Fi or other known wireless technologies for communicatingwith the ground control system 130. The control system 430 may alsoinclude a battery 438 and various other electronics. In one application,a generator 440 may also be provided in the housing 300 to interact withthe wheel 310 so that electrical energy is generated as the wheel 310 isturning. The generated electrical energy is supplied to the controlsystem 430 for recharging the battery 438 and/or for distributing it toother components.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the components of the depthand tension measurement system 210 are distributed between the topsheave wheel assembly 242 and the bottom sheave wheel assembly 240 asfollows. The rotation measurement device 410 and the local controlsystem 430 are left on the top sheave wheel assembly 242, so that thissystem measures only the movement of the line 110. The tensionmeasurement device 420 and an additional local control system 530, thatmay be identical to the original local control system 430, are installedon the bottom sheave wheel assembly 240. The local control systems 430and 530 may be configured to exchange data only with the ground controlsystem 130, and/or to communicate between them and with the groundcontrol system. Both local control systems 430 and 530 have thecapability to exchange data in a wireless manner and also to receiveenergy from a local battery and/or an electrical generator 440 that islocated on the housing of each wheel assembly and is activated by therotation of each corresponding wheel.

Note that although the previous embodiments disclosed placing therotating measurement device 410 on the housing 300 of the top sheavewheel assembly 242, it is possible to set the rotating measurementdevice 410 directly on the wheel 310, for example, as an accelerometer.

A method for operating a wireline system that includes one or both ofthe top and bottom sheave wheel assemblies 240 and 242 is now discussedwith regard to FIG. 6. The method includes a step 600 of attaching a topsheave well assembly 242 to a crane, wherein the top sheave wellincludes a depth and tension measurement system 210. In step 602, awireline 110 (or another well related tool) from a wireline truck isplaced over the top sheave wheel. In step 604, wireless communication isestablished between a ground control system 130 and the depth andtension measurement system 210. In step 606, the wireline 110 is loweredinto the well 112 and in step 608 one parameter of the wireline (forexample, the travel distance or the tension in the wireline 110 or both)is measured with the depth and tension measurement system 210. In step610, information associated with the measured parameter is transmittedin a wireless manner, from the depth and tension measurement system 210to the ground control system 130. Depending on this information, theoperator of the wireline ground control system 130 decides in step 612to perform an action with a tool attached to the wireline, for example,if the parameter describes the distance travelled by the wireline intothe well, activate the guns or activate a setting tool when the positionunderground of that tool has reached its desired target. Other actionsmay be implemented with the wireline.

A method for manufacturing a depth and tension measurement system 210 isnow discussed with regard to FIG. 7. The method includes a step 700 ofattaching a rotation measurement device 410 to a housing 300 of a topsheave wheel assembly 242, a step 702 of attaching a tension measurementdevice 420 to the housing, a step 704 of providing a local controlsystem 430 on the housing, where the control system is electricallyconnected to the rotation measurement device 410 and the tensionmeasurement device 420, a step 706 of providing a wireless transceiveron the housing, in electrical communication with the local controlsystem, and a step 708 of attaching a wheel, that is free to turn, tothe housing.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment in which the imaging system 250 ispresent, in addition to the depth and tension measurement system 210.Note that in one embodiment, the imaging system may be installed on thesheave wheel assembly without the depth and tension measurement system210. The imaging system 250 is show in FIG. 8 being attached to a bottomof the generator 440. However, the imaging system 250 may be attached atother locations on the top sheave wheel assembly 242, as indicated byarrows A to D in FIG. 8. The imaging system 250 is illustrated in moredetail in FIG. 9 and includes a frame 900 to which a first camera 910 isattached. The first camera 910 may be a still image camera or a videocamera. Any type of known cameras may be used. Optionally, the imagingsystem 250 may also include a second camera 920, also attached to theframe 900. The second camera 920 may be a still image camera or a videocamera. A local controller 930 is attached to the frame 900 andconnected to an external plug 940, which is configured to connect to thegenerator 440 or battery 438 for receiving power and/or to the controlsystem 430 for exchanging information with the processor 432. Processor432 may be configured to transmit the images (pictures and/or video)taken by the first and second cameras, through the transceiver 436, tothe ground control system 130, via the antenna 232. The processor 432may use the power from the battery 438 to power the first and secondcameras. However, if the power level in the battery 438 is low, theprocessor 432 may switch the power supply to the generator 440. In oneembodiment, the processor 432 may reconfigure the various elements ofthe control system 430 so that the generator 440 recharges the battery438.

The local controller 930 (which may be a processor) is also connectedthrough bus 950 to the first and second cameras 910 and 920, asillustrated in FIG. 9. In this way, the local controller 930 is able tocontrol the cameras, for example, when to switch them on and off.Further, the local controller is configured to receive the images fromthe cameras and transmit them to controller 432. The plug 940 isconfigured to include wires for exchanging power between the generator440 and/or the battery 438, and the local controller 930. In addition,the plug 940 is configured to include additional wires for exchangingdata between the local controller 930 and the processor 432, forexample, commands and/or video information. In one application, the samewires may be used for transmitting power and data.

In one embodiment, the first camera 910 is configured to point along thegravity Y while the second camera 920 is configured to point in ahorizontal direction X, which is perpendicular or some other angle tothe gravity Y. Further, the horizontal direction X may be chosen to beperpendicular to the axel 312 of the wheel 310. Thus, with thisarrangement, the first camera 910 feeds images about well head 111 andassociated equipment entering the well or surrounding the well while thesecond camera 920 feeds images about the wireline 110 and the top sheavewheel assembly 242. In this way, the operator of the system 100 iscapable to monitor the system 100 and its surroundings on the monitors140 or 144, without leaving the control room or relying on second-handinformation. Further, with this imaging system in place, the operator ofthe system 100 is capable to monitor in real-time all the system'scomponents above ground and to take immediate corrective action if anyof these components fails or misbehaves.

For an enhanced experience, as illustrated in FIG. 10, at least one ofthe first and second cameras 910 and 920 may be connected through amoving arm 1010 and 1020, respectively, to the frame 900. The localcontroller 930 may be instructed by the operator to rotate the arms asdesired, and/or to translate them. In this way, the operator can selectwhich part of the system 100 to image in more detail. As the first andsecond cameras may have a zoom function, the operator may zoom in or outas desired to acquire a better view of a given component of the system.Note that the commands for rotating and/or translating one or bothcameras are transmitted in a wireless manner by the ground controlsystem to the local controller 432 so that no wire is necessary toconnect the imaging system to the control room.

A method for monitoring a well with the imaging system illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10 is now discussed with regard to FIG. 11. The methodincludes a step 1100 of attaching the imaging system 250 to a top sheavewheel assembly 242, a step 1102 of attaching the top sheave wheelassembly 242 to a crane or derrick 150, a step 1104 of placing awireline 110 over a wheel 310 of the top sheave wheel assembly 242, astep 1106 of lowering the wireline 110 into the well 112, a step 1108 ofcapturing images with the imaging system 250, which is directly attachedto the top sheave wheel assembly 242, of a surrounding of the wireline110, and a step 1110 of transmitting in a wireless manner the capturedimages, from the top sheave wheel assembly to a ground control system.The method may further include a step of taking images of the wirelinewith a first camera, and taking images of the well with a second camera,wherein the second camera is oriented along a direction that isperpendicular or some other angle to the first camera.

As noted above, the imagining system 250 may be used without the depthand tension measurement system 210 or in combination with such a system.If the depth and tension measurement system 210 is not present, then atleast the battery 438, transceiver 436, and generator 440 may beconnected to the imagining system 250 for providing data exchangecapabilities and power supply. In one application, if both the imaginingsystem 250 and the depth and tension measurement system 210 are present,it is possible to pack the imagining system 250 with its own powersource and transceiver for being completely independent of the depth andtension measurement system 210. Those skilled in the art will understandthat other combinations of the elements of these two systems arepossible.

The disclosed embodiments provide a wireless imaging system which may becombined with a wireless depth and tension measurement system, and thecombined system may be integrated on a sheave wheel assembly forwireline operation associated with a well. It should be understood thatthis description is not intended to limit the invention. On thecontrary, the exemplary embodiments are intended to cover alternatives,modifications and equivalents, which are included in the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Further, inthe detailed description of the exemplary embodiments, numerous specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a comprehensive understandingof the claimed invention. However, one skilled in the art wouldunderstand that various embodiments may be practiced without suchspecific details.

Although the features and elements of the present embodiments aredescribed in the embodiments in particular combinations, each feature orelement can be used alone without the other features and elements of theembodiments or in various combinations with or without other featuresand elements disclosed herein.

This written description uses examples of the subject matter disclosedto enable any person skilled in the art to practice the same, includingmaking and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporatedmethods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by theclaims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled inthe art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireline system for well exploration, thesystem comprising: a wireline to be lowered into the well; a top sheavewheel assembly configured to hold the wireline aligned and above a headof the well; a bottom sheave wheel configured to hold the wirelinealigned with a wireline truck; and a ground control system configured toreceive from the top sheave wheel assembly, in a wireless manner, imagesof a surrounding of the sheave wheel assembly, wherein the top sheavewheel assembly comprises: an imaging system configured to obtain theimages of the surrounding of the sheave wheel assembly; and atransceiver configured to send the images in the wireless manner to theground control system.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the imagingsystem includes first and second cameras, the first camera beingoriented along gravity and the second camera being oriented along adirection that is perpendicular to the gravity and to an axle of a wheelof the top sheave wheel assembly.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein atleast one of the first and second cameras is configured to rotate. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the top sheave wheel assembly isconfigured to be attached to a top of a crane or a derrick.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: a local control system thatsupplies power to the imaging system and transmits the images from theimaging system to the ground control system, wherein the local controlsystem comprises: a processor; a memory that stores the images; and thetransceiver, which is controlled by the processor and is configured totransmit the images, in the wireless manner, to the ground controlsystem.
 6. The system of claim 5, further comprising: a power generatorattached to the housing and electrically connected to the local controlsystem and configured to generate electrical energy from a rotation ofthe wheel to power the local control system.
 7. The system of claim 1,further comprising: a depth and tension measurement system attached tothe top sheave wheel assembly and configured to measure a parameterassociated with a wheel of the top sheave wheel assembly.
 8. A methodfor monitoring a well, the method comprising: attaching an imagingsystem to a top sheave wheel assembly; attaching the top sheave wheelassembly to a crane or derrick; placing a wireline over a wheel of thetop sheave wheel assembly; lowering the wireline into the well;capturing images with the imaging system, which is directly attached tothe top sheave wheel assembly, of a surrounding of the wireline; andtransmitting in a wireless manner the captured images, from the topsheave wheel assembly to a ground control system.
 9. The method of claim8, further comprising: taking images of the wireline with a firstcamera; and taking images of the well with a second camera, wherein thesecond camera is oriented along a direction that is perpendicular to thefirst camera.